Cremnops plesiopectoralis Berta

Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, A revision of the New World species of Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 3916 (1), pp. 1-83 : 66-67

Cremnops plesiopectoralis Berta

[ Plate 22 , Figs A–I]

Cremnops plesiopectoralis Berta de Fernandez, 1998. Female.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by two distal hind tibial spines, non-prominent scutal flange, Neotropical distribution, and asymmetrical hind claw inner teeth.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 7.2 mm (6.5–7.5 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 32–37 flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Malar space 0.8x (0.6–1.1x) eye height.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Median mesonotal lobe depressed medially. Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 3 (1–3) longitudinal carinae. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; lobed (to 90° to obtuse). Mesoscutellar trough without (to with) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 4 (3–5) pits; about 1/ 2x (1/3–1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with 4 (3–5) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral margin.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3x width. Distal tibia with 2 (or 3) spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped, with 3 (to 5) basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint. 2nd submarginal cell about as high as wide.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 2x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: head, pronotum, anterior portion of scutum, ventral mesosoma , fore and mid leg, hind trochanter, trochantellus, tibia, and tarsus (to all orange).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —February to October.

Geographic Range —Northern Mexico at a latitude of about 25°N and south to Brazil. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Similar to C. meabilis , C. cameronii , and C. pectoralis . Cremnops plesiopectoralis has a more southern distribution (about 25°N and southward) than C. meabilis (the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and northward) and can be differentiated from C. cameronii by its asymmetrical (instead of symmetrical) inner and outer hind claw inner teeth. The distribution of C. pectoralis appears to be restricted to the Caribbean.

Etymology. Named it for its resemblance to C. pectoralis ( Berta 1998) .

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: female, Tepoatian, Moreios Mexico, S-20–56, ( USNM) (H8920). PARATYPE: 2 ( CNC), 7 ( MCZ). Non-Types: 37 ( ESSIG), 18 ( CAS), 37 ( CNC), 26 ( MNHN), 16 ( MCZ), 42 ( FSCA), 3 ( UCDC), 18 ( HIC). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 22. Cremnops plesiopectoralis. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. fore wing; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.